Author's note: Hey guys, long time no see! I'm sorry that I haven't updated the story for a while. But here is the new chapter, enjoy~~~ (P.S. Thank you to those who reviewed and followed, it means a lot to me!)
Chapter four: New friend
It's been a month since Cato and his dad left, and just as he promised, Katniss got her first letter from Cato this morning. The Academy actually sounds pretty fun from the way Cato described it. Apparently two of the past victors, Brutus and Enobaria, both took Cato in as their one on one student. Katniss could almost imagine Cato's smirk while he was writing this letter. She is happy for her friend, although the purpose of the academy still doesn't set well with her.
"Katniss! It's time for breakfast! We have a busy day ahead of us!" Yelled her father from the kitchen.
"Coming dad! What are we doing today?" Asked Katniss as she sat down for breakfast.
" We have to check the snare line in the east side of the forest, the wild turkey over there always get us a good price at Greasy Sae's, and we need to go get as many wild squirrel as possible." Said Mr. Everdeen and he leaned down to whisper in his eldest daughter's ear " I'm thinking about getting you and Prim a little something from the bakery since Prim's third birthday is right around the corner."
"Really daddy?" Katniss squealed at her father, "We are going to get something from the town bakery? Oh I bet Prim will love a cupcake decorated with a pretty primrose flower frosting! She always points at them when mom take us to the town square!"
"I think that's a wonderful idea sweetheart, let's hurry up and get to work if we want to buy that cupcake!" said Mr. Everdeen " Are you done with your breakfast?"
"Yup, let's go daddy!" said Katniss as she finished wiping her mouth.
"Katherine darling, we are going out to the forest now, breakfast was delicious by the way!" Mr. Everdeen gave his wife a little peck on the lip as he walked toward the door.
"Careful darling, don't get caught!" said Katniss' mother in a worried tone.
"Oh mom you worry too much! When do we ever get caught! Plus, the peacekeeper loves the fresh meat we bring back." Said Katniss before she hugged both her mom and little sister goodbye.
She quickly followed her father out the door and toward the hole on the fence where her father and her always enter into the forest. "Daddy, do you know how did mom and Mr. Larson met each other?" asked Katniss, her tone laced with curiosity.
"Yeas sweetheart, but that's your mother's story to tell, perhaps we will tell you when you are older." Said Mr. Everdeen as they walked past the last house in the Seam.
"But daddy" Katniss batted her eyelashes in an innocent way, a pout forming on her cute little face "Pretty please?"
"Sweetie, the physical appearance of the word please doesn't do anything to sway my mind, I hope you realize that. It never worked, so I don't know why you still try." Said Mr. Everdeen with a muffled chuckle as he tries to appear serious.
"Daddy! You sound like Mr. Larson now!" Said Katniss indignantly "Plus, it's always worth a try, it always work on mom."
"Sweetheart, your mom is your mom, you know she can never deprive you of anything when you give her the puppy eyes." Said Mr. Everdeen "Anyways, can you go and run the snare line, don't forget to reset the snares while you are at it! You've been practicing this past month right?" Asked Mr. Everdeen as he hands a small game bag to his daughter.
"Of course daddy! I know how to do it now!" answered Katniss as she took a small bow from the center of an empty log, "I'll try to shoot some games too, and I'll see you here at noon?"
"Yea that sounds good, good luck sweetheart, and be careful! Always be on alert…"
"Because you never know what's lurking in the forest." Finished Katniss "Got it dad, you say this every time."
"I say it because it's true, always be ready to climb a tree alright?" Asked Mr. Everdeen sternly.
"Alright daddy, see you!" waved Katniss as she walked toward the east side of the forest. This side rarely has any large animals anyway, all the big predators are on the west and north side of the forest. Father always treats me like a baby, Katniss thought to herself. Katniss readied her bow when she suddenly hears a rustle ahead of her. She carefully took aim at the direction of the rustle, and walked toward the source of the noise. Katniss thought it would be something like a rabbit or raccoon making the rustling noise, but she never expected to see Gale Hawthorne and his father under the tree, where her father and her set their first snare in the whole line that runs through this part of the forest. She didn't know there were other people hunting in the forest too, most people in district twelve don't have the courage or the skills to roam in the forest and seek food here.
"Excuse me! Mr. Hawthorne that's a snare set by my father and I. I hope you aren't planning anything." Said Katniss as she walked towards the pair. Her arrow knocked in place.
"Oh hello there, you are Alex Everdeen's girl right? What are you doing here all by yourself?" Asked Mr. Hawthorne as he takes in the little girl standing in front of him.
"Yes, that would be my father, his currently hunting on the west side of the forest right now, I'm checking the snare line on the east side by myself." Answered Katniss "And my father trust me to do this alone, how about you? What are you doing here with your son? I wasn't aware there are other people who hunt here."
"Oh, we don't exactly hunt, and I've been busy in the mine those past few years and haven't set a foot in the forest for a long time. But I've finally decided that my son Gale here is old enough to learn about snares and come into the forest. Your father and I had a few run in here in the forest before you were born." Explained Mr. Hawthorne "And don't worry, we won't take your spots, we were just checking out your snares, but we will set up our snares else where away form yours, I hope that's okay with you and Alex."
"Oh, my dad never mentioned seeing you, I think he assumed you weren't going to come back. So he never told me about it, but I'm sure he will be happy to see you again, and it's fine if you want to set up snares here, my dad always says the forest is free for all, you just have to be brave and skilled enough to venture in here." Said Katniss
"Ah, I remember Alex saying that. Oh, have you met my son Gale yet? I think his a little older than you." Asked Mr. Hawthorne.
"Yea, dad she's a grade below me, we see each other in school sometimes. " Answered Gale, "But I don't think I know your first name though."
"It's Katniss."
"What? Catnip? Isn't that a grass?" Asked Gale
"No, it's Katniss!" Said Katniss a bit louder this time "And Katniss is a type of flower."
"Oh, haha, I think I'm going to stick with Catnip. Anyways I'll see you at school then, we could talk about different type of snares sometimes." Said Gale in a cheerful voice. He has heard the name Katniss several times in school, apparently the baker's youngest son, Peeta, who is in his grade has a huge crush on her. Honestly, his not surprised, Katniss will probably grow up to be the prettiest girl in district twelve according to his mother.
"That sounds great, see you Gale. And good luck Mr. Larson, you might run into my father if you keep going west!" Said Katniss as she walked deeper into the forest to check the second snare her father and her places near the lake they found last year.